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IP or HDCVI cameras: what to choose for a house, flat or shop
The difference between IP and HDCVI, 2–8 MP resolution, a 2.8 or 4 mm lens, IR illumination, PoE, NVR and XVR, the Dahua ranges and the DMSS app, with sample kits for a flat, a house and a shop.
How IP differs from HDCVI
HDCVI is high-definition analogue video over coaxial cable: the camera sends its signal to an XVR recorder, and 12 V power is supplied separately (often through a combined cable). There is no latency, the cable can run for hundreds of metres, and an old analogue system is easy to upgrade by replacing only the cameras and the recorder.
An IP camera sends an already compressed digital stream over twisted pair to a network recorder (NVR) or to the cloud. With PoE a single twisted-pair cable carries both video and power. IP cameras offer higher resolution and more analytics (human and vehicle detection, line crossing), and new points are easier to add through a switch. Dahua makes both ranges, and the choice depends on the site rather than on what is 'more modern'.
Resolution: 2, 4, 5 or 8 MP
2 MP (1080p) is enough for a general view of a yard, entrance hall or corridor. 4–5 MP is needed where details matter: the till area, a shop entrance, faces at the front door. 8 MP (4K) is for large areas such as car parks, warehouses and sales floors, where one frame has to be zoomed in. Common HDCVI resolutions are 2 and 5 MP, IP comes in 2, 4, 5 and 8 MP.
Higher resolution means more disk space; H.265 compression saves a lot of it. For a home system with four 2–4 MP cameras one 1–2 TB disk is usually enough, and with motion-triggered recording storage stretches to weeks; for a shop with continuous recording the capacity is calculated with a reserve.
Lens 2.8 or 4 mm and IR illumination
A 2.8 mm lens gives a wide angle of about 100°: one camera covers a room, an entrance or a small yard, but faces beyond 5–6 m are hard to make out. 4 mm gives about 80°, the picture is 'closer', good for corridors, driveways, car parks and the till. For a yard or house frontage with a long viewing zone a 2.7–13.5 mm varifocal lens, adjusted on site, is convenient.
IR illumination gives a black-and-white picture in the dark: compact dome cameras usually reach about 20–30 m, outdoor bullet cameras roughly 50–80 m. Full-Color cameras with white light give a colour image at night wherever there is at least a little light. Outdoors choose an IP67 housing, in an entrance hall a vandal-resistant IK10 dome.
NVR or XVR and PoE
IP cameras need an NVR; on models with built-in PoE the cameras plug straight into the recorder with one cable, with no separate switch. If there are not enough ports or the cameras are far away, a PoE switch is added. An XVR accepts HDCVI, ordinary analogue cameras and usually a few IP cameras, which makes it handy for upgrading an old system in stages.
Choose the recorder by channel count with a reserve: for 4 cameras take an 8-channel unit so points can be added. The hard drive should be a surveillance series rated for round-the-clock recording. In the Dahua line-up, Lite and Pro cover the basics, WizSense adds human and vehicle detection, and WizMind offers advanced analytics for business.
The DMSS app
Both Dahua NVRs and XVRs connect to the DMSS app: live video and archive on the phone, push notifications on motion, two-way talk on cameras with a microphone and speaker, several sites in one account. All it takes is internet at the recorder and the QR code on its housing, with no port forwarding.
Kits for a flat, a house and a shop
Flat: one or two 2–4 MP IP cameras with a 2.8 mm lens for the hallway and living room, recording to a memory card or a compact NVR, viewing in DMSS. House: 4–8 outdoor 4 MP PoE IP cameras, 2.8 mm on the entrance and yard, 4 mm or varifocal on the driveway and fence, an 8-channel NVR with PoE and a 2–4 TB disk. Shop: 5 MP HDCVI with an XVR if coax is already in place, or 4–5 MP IP with a PoE switch; a 4 mm camera over the till, 2.8 mm on the entrance and floor, Full-Color in dark zones. Dahua cameras, recorders, switches, cable and power supplies are at ASB Trade, supplied by the Georgian distributor.
Frequently asked questions
IP or HDCVI for a house?
For a new system, IP with PoE: one cable per camera, higher resolution and more analytics. HDCVI pays off when coaxial cable is already laid or the run is very long.
2.8 or 4 mm: which lens to take?
2.8 mm for a wide view of a room, entrance or yard; 4 mm for corridors, driveways and the till, where you need to see further and in more detail.
Can I watch the cameras on my phone?
Yes, through the DMSS app: the recorder is added by QR code, after which live video, archive and notifications are available.